Winch having a selectable stable at rest unbraked drum position during each revolution

ABSTRACT

A winch designed for any duty capability from light to heavy duty has a sub assembly of a major axis shaft with bearings adapted to be secured to a supporting structure and in turn rotatably receive an elliptical drum means eccentrically offset from the major axis shaft. Then a lift line, wound on or unwound from the elliptical drum means during respective raising or lowering of a load, at two operational moments during each revolution is in lineal directional alignment through the center of the major axis shaft. Stopping of the actuating means used in turning the elliptical drum about the major axis shaft at these respective alignment operational moments results in the winch operation being stopped without braking or holding. One of the two alignment positions, with the load line positioned below the center of the major axis shaft is considered more stable than the other alignment position above the center of the major axis shaft. In a light weight embodiment, the winch is adaptable for many light duty lifting jobs. For example in a residential stairway, the winch is installed with pulleys, a strong cord and a pivotal support boom having hooks for suitcases which are raised above for inactive storage and are lowered when needed. In heavy duty embodiments, components of the winch are often made to serve two functions such as a crank arm structure also serving as a guiding flange of an offset eccentric lift line receiving elliptical drum.

United States Patent 91 Johnson WINCH HAVING A SELECTABLE STABLE 'AT REST UNBRAKED DRUM POSITION DURING EACH REVOLUTION [76] Inventor: Raymond D. Johnson, 444 22nd Place, S.E., Vero Beach, Fla. 32960 [22] Filed: Nov. 9, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 197,028

[52] U.S. Cl. 254/150, 212/8 [51] Int. Cl 866d 1/30 [58] Field of Search 254/150, 186, 146, 254/144, 161, 187; 212/59, 8

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 75,869 3/1868 Curley 254/190 R 3,301,533 l/l967 Pfaff 254/187 2,607,560 8/1952 Bugg 254/186 HC 3,437,315 4/1969 McDonald 254/184 2,042,460 6/1936 Fykse 254/190 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 160,143 8/1957 Sweden 254/186 1,473,042 2/1967 France 254/184 2,019,735 10/1970 Germany ..254/186 Primary Examinerl-larvey C. Hornsby Attorney-Roy E. Mattern, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A winch designed for any duty capability from .light to [451 July 17, 1973 heavy duty has a sub assembly of a major axis shaft with bearings adapted to be secured to a supporting structure and in turn rotatably receive an elliptical drum means eccentrically offset from the major axis shaft. Then a lift line, wound on or unwound from the elliptical drum means during respective raising or lowering of a load, at two operational moments during each revolu tion is in lineal directional alignment through the center of the major axis shaft. Stopping of the actuating means used in turning the elliptical drum about the major axis shaft at these respective alignment operational moments results in the winch operation being stopped without braking or holding. One of the two alignment positions, with the load line positioned below the center of the major axis shaft is considered more stable than the other alignment position above the center of the major axis shaft. a

In a light weight embodiment, the winch is adaptable for many light duty lifting jobs. For example in a residential stairway, the winch is installed with pulleys, a strong cord and a pivotal support boom having hooks for suitcases which are raised above for inactive storage and are lowered when needed. In heavy duty embodiments, components of the winch are often made to serve two functions such as a crank arm structure also serving as a guiding flange of an offset eccentric lift line receiving elliptical drum.

14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAImm uL 1191a FIGURE FIGURE 2 PAIENIEDJUUTW 3.146.309

' samaura FIGURE 4 Pmmmmiwn sum 3 or 4 FIGURE 5 Pmmmm 3.146.309

FIGURE 6 Q I50 FIGURE 7 FIGURE 8 WINCH HAVING A SELECTABLE STABLE 'AT REST UNBRAKED DRUM POSITION DURING EACH REVOLUTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The simplest form of winches used previously embodies a round cylindrical drum onto which the winch line is wound upon operation of a simple handle. Release of the handle, without prior holding of the load, causes freewheeling of the winch and dropping of the load. Mechanical means have been provided to prevent this freewheeling. The most common is the ratchet lock, which is adequate providing that the ratchet lock is firmly set and very little wear has previously occurred to the mating locking surfaces. Take away these safety conditions and again you have a system capable of freewheeling. Other more complicated locking devices such as those referred to as no back devices are being employed but beacuse of cost are mainly used on large industrial winches.

The winches illustrated and described herein accomplish the locking or parking of the lifting winch system without use of additional mechanical locking devices thereby eliminating possible freewheeling because of human factors and worn locking components, thereby providing winches which are intrinsically safe. These winches with offset eccentric elliptical drums are designed for heavier industrial duty and are equipped with gear trains to gain a mechanical advantage as reduced input forces are used.

SUMMARY- OF INVENTION A winch is provided for light duty and beyond to heavy duty installations depending on its particular embodiment, but always having a parked position selectable and/or automatically obtainable during each revolution of the elliptical winch drum. Freewheeling never occurs and unwanted extra revolutions of rapidly decreasing speed are prevented in whole or part by an optional auxiliary friction means.

In a light duty embodiment, many installations, such as household mountings, are made possible which previously were not undertaken because other winches were generally not conveniently installed, safely operated, and/or installed at a sufficiently lower cost. In both light and heavy duty embodiments of these winches having eccentric elliptical drums, the utilization of the null, parked, and/or stop positions, especialy a lower more stable position, opens up many more applications where safety and/or lower costs are wanted.

DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I, shows in perspective, one preferred embodiment for light duty of a winch being used to lift, and secure in place, a number of suitcases suspended on a rack;

FIG. 2, shows in perspective, this light duty winch being used in pairs, to lift and secure a small boat under the roof of a carport;

FIG. 3, is an exploded view, of this light duty winch, illustrating its mounting bolt, washer, and friction washer;

FIG. 4, is a perspective view with portions removed, to show how the bent handle wire is used to strengthen the elliptical drum and anchor the handle in the light duty winch;

FIG. 5, shows the operational sequence of the light duty winch having an eccentric elliptical drum, in a series of diagrammatic views;

FIG. 6, shows in perspective, another preferred embodiment for heavier duty of a winch having an eccentric elliptical drum being used to lift a box into the loft of a building with dotted lines indicating an alternate location of the winch;

FIG. 7, is an exploded view of this heavier duty winch having an eccentric elliptical drum; and

FIG. 8, is a partial view of another embodiment of a heavier duty winch having an eccentric elliptical drum, illustrating the addition of a drive gear assembly to turn a winch of greater capacity.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Representative Installations of the Winches The preferred embodiment of a light duty winch 20, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is particularly suited for operation during the lifting, directly or indirectly, of light bulky items, such as empty suitcases 22, into places such as stairwells 24, heretofore considered unusable. Also similarly other items such as boats 26 may be lifted using two or more winches 20, into the overhead space, for example, of a carport 28. If a boat 26 is of a heavier type or some other heavier item 30 is to be lifted, as illustrated in FIG. 6, into the overhead storage space, for example, of a garage 32, a heavy duty winch 34 is installed. Whether a light duty winch 20 is installed or a heavy duty winch 34 is installed, both winches will have an eccentric elliptical drum, thereby providing one stable stopping locale of the winchfor each revolution of the respective eccentric elliptical drum.

Light Duty Winch in Stairwell In reference to the use of the light duty winch 20 in the stairwell 24, it is secured to a structural member such as building stud 100, see FIG. 3, at a convenient location. Then at the end overhead wall a suitcase rack 36 is pivotally mounted with its boom 38 and spaced books 40 secured by a hinge pin assembly 42.'Pulley wheels 44 and a strong rope 46 are arranged, so upon operation of the light duty winch 20, the position of boom 38 is selectably changed. Suitcases 22 are lowered sufficiently over the steps 48 to be easily reached by hand when needed for a trip and after the trip they are raised back again into the formerly unused space in the stairwell 24.

Construction of Light Duty Winch The order of assembly and installation of the components of the light duty winch 20 is illustrated in FIG. 3. The handle 60 subassembly has a hand or finger grip 64 rotatably positioned by a formed wire 62 creating a crank consisting of two leg portions of the wire 62. Where these portions 70 terminate, wire 62 is then bent at right angles creating two anchoring and postioning portions 68 molded into the winch body 66 as illustrated in FIG. 4, where portions are removed to show these anchoring portions 68, which also reinforce the winch body 66.

Immediately adjacent the lower portions of the leg portions 70 and slightly beyond, the molded body 66 of the light duty winch 20 is formed as an eccentric elliptical drum 76 to receive the rope 46 by having two spaced guiding flanges 82 and 84 separated by a triangular shaped drum reel 77. Spaced molded rounded portions 72 and 74 of this reel 77 surround respective anchor portions 68 of formed wire 62. Then between rounded reel portions 72,74 a triangular molded bridge portion 79 of the reel is arranged for strengthening drum 76, guiding rope 46 being wound on reel 77, and serving as an anchoring place for the rope end. Rope 46 is passed through apex hole 78 of bridge portion 79 and enlarged by tieing special knots.

The overall positioning of drum 76 is radially spaced from the center of rotation of the winch establishing the eccentric elliptical drum 76. This positioning results as a molded bearing housing 80, which is an integral part of the body 66, is formed with and extends beyond and below guiding flange 84. Two upwardly spaced extending portions 83,85, of bearing housing 80 receive the ends of the anchoring portions 68 of formed wire 62 further continuing the continuity of the reinforced structure of molded winch body 66.

A hole 86 is formed through bearing housing 80 having an enlarged entry 88 to receive a mounting fastener assembly 96 serving as an axial securement means 96. It consists of a lag screw 90, or optionally a bolt, with head 94 and underhead washer 92 on one end positioned in entry 88 clear of rope movements, and with a friction producing washer 98 positioned at the other end and located between bearing housing 80 of winch body 66 and mounting structure, such as stud 100 shown in FIG. 3. The effectiveness of the friction washer 98 is regulated in part by the tightening of lag screw 90.

Operation of Light Duty Winch In FIGS. 1 and 2 the places of installation are shown where a light duty winch 20 having the eccentric elliptical drum 76, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, may be used. The specific operation of this light duty winch 20 is indicated throughout the sequential changing views of FIG. 5, the sequences being noted by nearby numerals 1 through 8. The schematic rectangular at the rope endrepresents the load whatever it may be.

In sequence 1, null position number 1 is the stable position of winch 20 and consequently the stable position of handle 60, which it generally seeks upon its release, unless by chance the limited stability null position number 2 is reached and maintained. For practical purposes, the at rest, parked, or safe null position is considered as null position number 1. Optionally, to assist in the more prompt reaching and maintenance of the parked position number 1, the friction washer 92 is installed, as illustrated in FIG. 3. With the use of washer 92 and by employing the wire handle 60 of comparatively light weight structure, any tendencies for any free wheeling of the handie 60 are substantially eliminated. This is true, especially as an operator of the winch 20 learns by his or her sense of feel to ascertain this stable nuil postion number one, and thereafter under load the handle 60 is released when it has been placed in this at rest or parked position of winch 20 making splendid use of the null 1 position of the eccentric elliptical drum 76.

Construction of Heavy Duty Winch These same operational features, illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein the light duty winch 20 having the eccentric elliptical drum 76 is stopped by an operator or it stops in a parked position, selectively available once in every revolution of the eccentric elliptical drum 76 are equally obtained when other embodiments are designed for heavier duty. Light duty winch 20 centers upon plastic molding of its body 66 about formed wire 62, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. However, for a heavier duty winch 34, shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, an all metal embodiment is preferred.

As indicated in FIG. 7, a metal handle optionally formed from a strip or bar has a hand or finger grip 112 rotatably secured at one end 154, by a pin mounting fastener 114. At its other end 120, spaced fastener assemblies 116, inclusive of spacers 118, are mounted as a reel 119 to extend transversely to combine with a spaced apart hub 124 to form an eccentric elliptical drum 122. This lower end 120 of crank handle 1 10 also serves as a flange guide for one side of this eccentric elliptical drum 122.

Hub 124 is formed to provide another flange guide 126 for the other side of the drum 122 to guide the rope 46, cable, or chain. In addition hub 124 is formed, often in a stamping process, with an integral embossment 128 to receive a bearing 132, and a hole 134 to receive a fastener.

Mounting of this embodiment of a heavy duty winch 34, or heavier duty winch in comparison with the molded light duty winch 20, is illustrated in FIG. 7. It is undertaken by using a mounting assembly serving as an axial securement means. This assembly 140 consists of a lag screw 142, or optionally a bolt, an underhead washer 144 at one end and a friction producing washer 146 at the other end located, upon assembly, between the bearing embossment 128 of hub 124 and supporting structure 150 having fastener receiving hole 148. The friction produced by washer 146 is changeable in part by the degree of final tightening of the mounting fastener assembly 140. In this embodiment the end portion 120 of crank handle 110 is partially cut away along a curve at 152 to provide direct accessibility to lag screw 142 of mounting fastener assembly 140. Also, crank handle '110 has an offset portion 153 placing the hand grip end 154 farther away from the incoming or outgoing rope 46 during the turning of crank handle or winch handle 110.

Construction of Another Heavy Duty Winch With Geared Drive The light duty winch shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and the heavier duty winch illustrated in FIG. 7 are used where direct motions of the respective crank handles 60 and 110 are conveniently possible. However, as shown in FIG. 8, a winch 166 having the desirable stable null position during each revolution of the eccentric elliptical drum, may also be adapted for a gear drive powered by hand. Also, as not shown, the gears "(Mind 172 may be driven by other than hand and arm power.

Generally, gears 170 and 172 arerotatably mounted to a support 168, the larger gear being secured by a bolt 176 which performs the center of rotation function of the winch in conjunction with a bolt and nut fastener assembly 138 at the other end of ajwider drum 160, utilizing a support 136, which is ultimately, with support 168, secured to a supporting structure 150. These fastener subassemblies serve as axial securement means. Rotation is undertaken by turning the crank arm subassembly 174. Turning is aided as bearings 132, not visible in FIG. 8, are placed in each hub embossment 128 of each drum hub 124, having also the flange guides 126.

Between the drum hubs 124, the wide reel portion or wide drum is constructed, by securing between the hubs 124, two cross support members 162, each passing through a spacer 164 which may respectively rotate relative to each one the cross members 162 and spacers 164 arranged to form an eccentric elliptical drum 160. A rope 46, cable, or chain, is wound on this eccentric elliptical wide drum 160 which is mounted radially offset to the rotating axis of this winch 166 as determined by axis passing through the center of bolt 176 and bolt and nut assembly 138.

Friction washers are not visible in FIG. 8, optionally, may be used. Again, as occurs during the operation of all embodiments of the winch, during each revolution of this gear driven heavy duty winch 166, there is a radial position of the eccentric elliptical drum when a stable null position is reached, as previously indicated in FIG. 5 and in the accompanying discussion of the operation of the light duty winch 20.

SUMMARY OF ADVANTAGES In whatever embodiment the winch may be assembled throughout the range from light to heavy duty, the components are always arranged to provide a potential stable null, at rest, or parked position of the eccentric elliptical drum during each revolution, if wanted. This occurs because the center of the reel or drum about which the rope, cable or chain is wound, is offset to the center of rotation of the winch itself. As a consequence, the load rope lift line falls into an analytical projected line extended through the center of rotation of the winch and therefore there is no turning torque and braking accessories are not needed. Optionally to hasten the winch or its drums retum to its stable null position, friction washers may be employed.

The utilization of each embodiment is undertaken with a wide margin of safety. In all embodiments, each component is designed to meet low cost production objectives while achieving maximum performance configurations, often serving two or more functions. For example, the fonned wire 62 of the light duty winch serves the crank handle function,holds the finger or hand grip 64, and reinforces the winch body 66. The hub 124 of a heavier duty winch 34 has an embossment 128 to receive a bearing 132, a hole structure 134 to accept a mounting fastener assembly, and flanges, used both to receive the fastener assemblies 116 of the eccentric elliptical drum 122 and to guide the incoming rope 46. Throughout the range of light to heavy duty there is always an embodiment available to efficiently and safely meet the operational requirements of a needed winch 20, 34, 160, or others of derivative arrangements.

I claim:

1. A winch having a selectable stable at rest unbraked position, obtainable during each revolution, if desired, as the turning power is selectively held and/or if the turning power is withdrawn, comprising:

a. axle securement means securely attachable to supporting structures; b. winch body structure rotatably secured on the axle securement means; I

c. an eccentric elliptical drum means secured to the winch body at a location radially offset to the axle securement means to receive a load line; and

d. a torque producing force receiving means secured to the combined winch body and drum means.

2. A winch, as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one friction washer is used in conjunction with the axle securement means, being positioned adjacent the winch body structure to be able to simultaneously contact both an adjacent supporting structure and the winch body structure.

3. A winch, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axle securement means has at least one lag screw subassembly.

4. A winch, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axle securement means has at least one bolt subassembly.

5. A winch, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the torque producing force receiving means is a crank arm.

6. A winch, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the torque producing means includes a gear drive.

7. A winch, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axle securement means is securely attachable to a supporting structure at two locations, one on each side of the winch body.

8. A light duty winch having a selectable stable at rest unbraked position, potentially obtainable during each revolution if the winch turning power is selectively held and/or withdrawn, comprising:

a. a fastener type axle subassembly attachable to a selected supporting structure;

b. a plastic molded winch body structure having a portion rotatably secured about the fastener type axle subassembly, and having an integral radially offset portion formed as an eccentric elliptical drum means; and

c. a hand produced torque force crank handle secured to the offset portion of the winch body structure.

9. A light duty winch, as claimed in claim 8, wherein the crank handle is formed of a wire embedded in part into the plastic molded winch body for its securement and to reinforce this winch body.

10. A light duty winch, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the reinforcing portions of the wire crank handle pass through the radially offset portion of the winch body creating dual spaced reinforcements of the plastic molded winch body to form the eccentric elliptical offset drum about which a lifting rope is wound.

11. A heavy duty winch having a selectable stable at rest unbraked position, potentially obtainable during each revolution if the winch turning power is selectively held and/or withdrawn, comprising:

a. a fastener type axle subassembly attachable to a selected supporting structure;

b. an embossed and flanged hub rotatably positioned by the fastener type axle subassembly;

c. at least two radially positioned fastener subassemblies inclusive of spacers secured to the hub;

d. a crank secured by the two radially positioned fastener subassemblies at the spaced distance apart from the hub to thereby form an eccentric elliptical offset drum with the fasteners being the reel, and both the hub and crank having integral portions forming the flanges of the drum to guide and to retain the windings of a lifting and pulling ro'pe upon operation of the winch.

12. A heavy duty winch, as claimed in claim ll, having another fastener type axle subassembly attachable to a selected supporting structure so two fastener type axle subassemblies support a wider drum to receive the rope windings.

13. A heavy duty winch, as claimed in claim 12, having in addition, a gear driveoperable by the crank.

winch body at a location radially offset to the axle securement means to receive a load line and at least once during each revolution causing the load line to be in a vertical plane passing through the center of the axle securemenl means; and

d. a torque producing force receiving means secured to the combined winch body and drum means.

* i i It 

1. A winch having a selectable stable at rest unbraked position, obtainable during each revolution, if desired, as the turning power is selectively held and/or if the turning power is withdrawn, comprising: a. axle securement means securely attachable to supporting structures; b. winch body structure rotatably secured on the axle securement means; c. an eccentric elliptical drum means secured to the winch body at a location radially offset to the axle securement means to receive a load line; and d. a torque producing force receiving means secured to the combined winch body and drum means.
 2. A winch, as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one friction washer is used in conjunction with the axle securement means, being positioned adjacent the winch body structure to be able to simultaneously contact both an adjacent supporting structure and the winch body structure.
 3. A winch, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axle securement means has at least one lag screw subassembly.
 4. A winch, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axle securement means has at least one bolt subassembly.
 5. A winch, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the torque producing force receiving means is a crank arm.
 6. A winch, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the torque producing means includes a gear drive.
 7. A winch, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axle securement means is securely attachable to a supporting structure at two locations, one on each side of the winch body.
 8. A light duty winch having a selectable stable at rest unbraked position, potentially obtainable during each revolution if the winch turning power is selectively held and/or withdrawn, comprising: a. a fastener type axle subassembly attachable to a selected supporting structure; b. a plastic molded winch body structure having a portion rotatably secured about the fastener type axle subassembly, and having an integral radially offset portion formed as an eccentric elliptical drum means; and c. a hand produced torque force crank handle secured to the offset portion of the winch body structure.
 9. A light duty winch, as Claimed in claim 8, wherein the crank handle is formed of a wire embedded in part into the plastic molded winch body for its securement and to reinforce this winch body.
 10. A light duty winch, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the reinforcing portions of the wire crank handle pass through the radially offset portion of the winch body creating dual spaced reinforcements of the plastic molded winch body to form the eccentric elliptical offset drum about which a lifting rope is wound.
 11. A heavy duty winch having a selectable stable at rest unbraked position, potentially obtainable during each revolution if the winch turning power is selectively held and/or withdrawn, comprising: a. a fastener type axle subassembly attachable to a selected supporting structure; b. an embossed and flanged hub rotatably positioned by the fastener type axle subassembly; c. at least two radially positioned fastener subassemblies inclusive of spacers secured to the hub; d. a crank secured by the two radially positioned fastener subassemblies at the spaced distance apart from the hub to thereby form an eccentric elliptical offset drum with the fasteners being the reel, and both the hub and crank having integral portions forming the flanges of the drum to guide and to retain the windings of a lifting and pulling rope upon operation of the winch.
 12. A heavy duty winch, as claimed in claim 11, having another fastener type axle subassembly attachable to a selected supporting structure so two fastener type axle subassemblies support a wider drum to receive the rope windings.
 13. A heavy duty winch, as claimed in claim 12, having in addition, a gear drive operable by the crank.
 14. A winch having a selectable stable at rest unbraked position, obtainable during each revolution, if desired, as the turning power is selectively held and/or if the turning power is withdrawn, comprising: a. axle securement means securely attachable to supporting structures; b. winch body structure rotatably secured on the axle securement means; c. an eccentric elliptical drum means secured to the winch body at a location radially offset to the axle securement means to receive a load line and at least once during each revolution causing the load line to be in a vertical plane passing through the center of the axle securement means; and d. a torque producing force receiving means secured to the combined winch body and drum means. 